Warkworth: Room to breathe

Easily commutable from the city, this family paradise offers a fabulous rural alternative to urban living. By VICKI HOLDER.

When Dave Cashmore gets home, 50 minutes away from his manufacturing business in Auckland, he opens the car door, listens to the sounds of the river and breathes in the fresh, clean country air. This special moment is what he loves most about living on a large, rural lifestyle property two minutes from Warkworth next to Ransom Winery.

Dave and his wife, Ginny Clark, moved here eight years ago after they returned from their big OE. "Both Aucklanders, we had been living overseas and did a tour around to see where we wanted to settle. But we ended up in Warkworth, because we found a beautiful bit of land and just loved the town. It's one of the few 'villagey' towns in New Zealand with no main road running through the middle. It's by the water and it has a neat community."

The property nestles between the Mahurangi River on the western boundary and a stony bottom stream to the north with native bush beyond. "It's stunningly beautiful," says Dave.

"We can stand on our balcony and hear the river bubbling below. It's very special and the soil is very high quality. A viticultural report confirms the land, which is fenced, watered and raced, is first grade horticultural land."

With its alluvial silt, it's ideal for growing grapes, though Dave never bothered to take up this option with such a good winery next door. Instead, he keeps sheep and two horses for Ginny in the paddocks. The sheep, he explains, keep the grass down. The kids enjoy looking after livestock and the income helps pay the rates.

Living in this area has given Dave and Ginny's two young boys, Jonathan and Ben, a lifestyle you just couldn't have closer to the city. In such safe surrounds, they have the freedom to ride their bikes around and play soccer with Dad in the paddocks or go fishing and eeling in the stream. They even go camping down by the river in a spot that feels daringly remote because you can't see the house. Both boys attend Matakana School, which gives them a fantastic education, says Dave.

"There's a huge community here. In the past five years, massive changes have taken place. Many families are moving up, making a lifestyle choice. We have a really good circle of friends. The community is phenomenal. We are very reluctant sellers. We were married here so we're pretty attached. But we want to get a smaller property because it's too much with the demands of the business."

Dave and Ginny built the rustic batten and board, architecturally designed homestead on the property eight years ago. On the brow of a hill, it shelters from the southerly winds and looks north over the lawns towards the river and stream. Living areas include a family area and kitchen plus a lounge next door, which all open to a huge, sunny terrace. As it's such a great peaceful spot, their friends visit frequently. So they do a lot of entertaining, particularly in summer, when they cook endlessly outdoors on the barbecue.

A bedroom wing plus a bathroom occupy the eastern wing for children, and upstairs - above the kitchen and family area - a master bedroom suite looks down to the apex of the stream and river. Each separate area has its own views, which are all equally beautiful.

Within easy commuting distance of the city, this lifestyle dream is a reality for a towny with sights fixed on greener fields.

Vital Statistics
ADDRESS: 125 Valerie Cl, Warkworth.

FEATURES: Lifestyle property within commuting distance of the city near Warkworth village, river and beaches; architecturally designed home built in 1997; three bedrooms; two bathrooms; office/study; two living areas; large outdoor terrace faces north for sun and views; at least two-car garaging; first grade horticultural land, ideal for grapes; handy to good schools.

SIZE: Land area 8.6ha.

TENDER CLOSES: November 17.

AGENT: Michael Hood, Unlimited Potential, Herne Bay. Ph 361 6658 bus; 021 677 066 mob.